M. P. WILDER'S REMARKS. 255 



lie examined, in the fruit rooms of the London Horticultural 

 Society, "two hundred to three hundred varieties of fruit, and 

 that there was not a single large, clear, well-colored specimen 

 among them." The same gentleman took out with him spe- 

 cimens of the Northern Spy apple, (which we now have before 

 us,) and some other varieties ; they elicited the admiration of 

 all, and indeed, says he, " there are no such apples in England." 

 With the zeal so generally manifested on this subject, it be- 

 comes a matter of importance to ascertain the best mode of cul- 

 tivation; but, so much has already been published on the soil, 

 management, and selection of fruit trees, that I can hardly ex- 

 pect to add any thing new. There are, however, some consid- 

 erations, "that lie at the root of the matter," and which, it is 

 believed, must be adopted, as a sine qua non^ to ensure success, 

 viz : — 



1. The selection of such sorts, and only such, as by uniform- 

 ity of character, in various localities, particularly our own, have, 

 after a trial of years, been proved to be hardy, productive, and 

 of excellent quality. 



2. The right soil, and the proper preparation of it. 



3. The appropriate manure. 



Much disappointment has been experienced, by selecting va- 

 rieties from their high-sounding names and novelty, rather than 

 from any known superiority of character. To avoid this prevalent 

 error, and in compliance with frequent requests, I submit a list 

 in the various classes of fruits, which, from the united experi- 

 ence of cultivators, appears well adapted to our region, and to 

 possess generally, the characteristics alluded to; and, to make 

 this as useful as possible, I have graduated it to limited selec- 

 tions for small gardens — 



APPLES. 



For three varieties : Large Early Bough, Gravenstein, Bald- 

 win. 



For six varieties, add : Red Astrachan, Porter, Rhode Island 

 Greening. 



For twelve varieties, add : Early Harvest, Williams, Fall 

 Harvey, Minister, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Roxbury Russet. 



For Winter Sw-eet Apples : Danvers Winter Sweet, Scaver 

 Sweet, Tolman Sweet. 



